Dancing toy figures



Dec. 6, 1955 J. J. MoRscH DANCING TOY FIGURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1953 INVENTOR JESSE J. MORSCH BY A T TORNE Y Dec. 6, 1955 J. J. MORSCH 2,725,671

DANCING TOY FIGURES Filed Aug. 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lg, .gg INVENTOR. /ESSE J MORSCH A T TORNE Y United tates This invention relates to an amusement device comprising a dancing toy figure. Many devices have been created to animate toy figures so as to give a simulated dancing effect. Most of these devices consist of a toy figure with loosely hung legs supported over a vibrating floor. The result is an animated figure, but the movements of the legs are unnatural, both feet move in unison, and the movements do not correspond to the natural body and leg movements of a human dancer.

The principal object of this invention is to provide animating means for a dancing toy figure which can be quickly and easily adjusted and preset to reproduce any desired natural arm, leg, foot, and body movements to simulate the dance steps of a human dancer.

Another object is to provide a leg and foot construction for toy figures which will allow the members to move freely in natural directions, but will prevent unnatural movements thereof.

A further object is to provide means for independently vibrating each of the two feet of the dancer to avoid the unnatural unison movements usually produced in dancers of this type.

A still further object is to provide means for continuous- 'ly and successively varying the action of the vibrating mechanism so that the dancing will change and vary according to a preset dance routine.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail cons'truction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is bad to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved animated figure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, outside view of the r-ight leg of'the figure;

Fig. 3 is a similarly enlarged, front view of the leg of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged, inside view of the leg of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism of the improved dancing toy, with its top cover plate removed;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section therethrough, taken on the line 66, Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the improved animated figure.

The actuating mechanism of the improved animated figure is enclosed in a rectangular housing 10 mounted on a base board 11 and provided with a removable cover plate 12 secured thereto by means of suitable angle clips 83 and screws 84. The animated figure is supported above the cover plate 12 from an upstanding post 13 which is secured in, and arises from, the coverplate 12.

The figure, per se, comprises a body 14, two arms 15, two hands 40, two upper leg portions '16, two lower leg atent 9 ice portions 17, and two feet 18. The body 14 is provided with a head 19 of any suitable appearance. The body and the leg and arm portions may be concealed with any suitable clothing to match the type of the figure. For clarity the clothing has been omitted from the figure illustrated.

The arms 15 are hingedly suspended from the shoulders of the body 14 upon suitable hinge pins 70. The upper leg portions are pivoted each side of the hip portion of the body 14 upon suitable hinge pins 20. The lower leg portions are pivotally suspended from the lower extremities of the upper leg portions on suitable hinge rivets 21, and the feet 18 are hingedly mounted on the lower extremities of the lower leg portions 17 by means of hinge members 22.

A horizontal hinge rod 23 extends transversally of the body above, yet adjacent, the hinge pins 20. The hinge rod 23 extends through the forward extremity of a bracket member 24 provided with a tubular sleeve 25 which surrounds the post 13. The sleeve 25 is vertically adjustable on the post 13 and may be set in any desired position there- 'on by means of a set screw 26.

A double, horizontal, swinging lever 27 is mounted on a vertical pivot 28 on the bracket member 24 and extends transversally of the latter adjacent the post 13. Connecting rods 29 extend from the extremities of the double lever 27 to the arms 15. An actuating rod 30 extends from the back of the body 14 to the double lever 27 adjacent the pivot 28. Thus, it can'be seen that if the body 14 be rocked forward and back on its hinge rod 23, the double lever 27 will be swung back and forth and will act through the connecting rods 29 to swing the arms 15 back and forth in opposite directions from each other and in greater arcs of movement than the body 14.

The body 14 is swung back and forth by means of a swinging rod 31 extending into the operating mechanism below "the cover plate 12. The legs and feet are vibrated from two arcuate vibrating pads 32 mounted on push rods 33 extending downwardly through the cover plate 12 into the operating mechanism.

In the human body it is impossible for the portion of the leg below the knee to swing forwardly of the upper portion of the leg. This animated figure is similarly arranged. The upper extremities of each lower legportion 17 is provided with an arcuate notch 34, and a stop pin 35 is afiixed in each upper leg portion to project into the. adjacent notch 34. The notches are of sufficient length to allow the lower leg portion to swing from a rearward, right angleposition to a forward, straight position, as shown in Fig. 2, in alignment with the upper leg-portion but not therebeyond.

It will-be noted that each of the feet 18 is pivoted on its hinge member 22 adjacent the heel portion of the .foot so that the toe portion can swing upwardly and downwardly. A leg'lever 36 is pivoted on the inside of each lower leg'portion on a pivot rivet 37. A stud 38 projects from each of the feet 18 through'a slotted opening 77 in the leg lever 36 so that upward and downward movement of the toe portion of the foot will swing the leg lever. The upper extremity of each'leg'lever ispositioned to contact a second stud 39 mounted on the upper leg portion '16 adjacent the knee hinge rivet 21 thereof.

Thus, as the toe of the foot is forced upwardly, the leg lever will be swung into contact withthe second stud 39 to force the figures knee forwardly or the foot rearwardly. As the lower leg portion is swung forwardly into alignr'nent'with the upper leg portion, the upper extremity of the leg lever will be swung rearwardly so as to act to swing the toeportionof the foot 18 thereof downwardly so thatit willbe pointed forwardly to simulate the :natural leg and foot movements of a human dancer.

The operating mechanism is supported between two side plates 41. The side plates depend from the cover plate 12 and are secured to the cover plate 12 by means of suitable angle clips 71 and attachment bolts '72. The plates 41 are held in rigid, spaced relation by means of suitable spacing devices 42. A power shaft 43 is journalled in and extends between the side plates 41. The power shaft projects through the housing and terminates in an external power crank 44.

The power shaft carries two cam-like star wheels 45. A vibrating arm 46 is positioned below each of the star wheels 45. Each of the arms 46 is provided with a camfollower pawl 51 which rides against the lower periphery of the adjacent star wheel 45. The arms 46 are hingedly mounted on a hinge shaft 47 extending between the side plates 43. and are constantly and resiliently drawn up wardly toward the star wheels 45 by means of suitable tension springs 48.

The tension springs terminate at their upper extremities in spring levers 49 projecting from a spring-regulating shaft 59. Rotation of the spring-regulating shaft will swing the spring levers 49 so as to vary the tension in the springs 48 to vary the action of the vibrating arms 46. It can be seen that if the power shaft 43 be rotated in a clockwise direction, the cam-follower pawls 51 will snap from the projections on the star wheels allowing the arms 46 to snap upwardly under the action of the springs 48.

It is preferred to position the projections on the two star wheels in staggered arrangement with each other so that their vibrating arms 46 will be released alternately.

The push rods 33 of the vibrating pads 32 are hingedly connected, through the medium of flexible tubular springs 73, with the vibrating arms 46 so that the vibrating movement of the arms is transmitted to the pads 32 and from thence to the feet and legs of the figure. The pads are maintained in parallel, longitudinal position by means of guide pins 78 which extend through openings in the cover plate 12.

The amount of vertical movement of the pads can be varied by the rotation of a cam shaft 52 which extends between the side plates 41 and is provided with two.ec centric cams 53 which act as stops for the upward movement of the arms 46. The cam shaft 52 is automatically rotated through spaced intervals through the medium of a ratchet pawl 54 positioned to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 55 fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 52.

The ratchet pawl is mounted on a reciprocating pawl plate 56 which in turn is rotatably mounted on the cam shaft 52. The pawl'plate 56 is reciprocated by means of an extension 57 which slidably extends through a guide member 58 and projects into the path of a third eccentric cam 59 fixedly mounted on the power shaft 43 between the star wheels 45. A tension spring 60 extending to the pawl plate 56 from a spring bracket '74 tends to rotate the pawl plate 56 in a direction to urge the extension 57 on the pawl plate toward the cam 59.

Thus, it can be seen that as the power shaft 43 is rotated to vibrate the pads 32, the cam 59 will push the pawl plate extension 57 to cause the ratchet pawl 54 to rotate the cam shaft 52 one tooth space for each revolution of the power shaft.

Thus, the amount of upward movement of the pads 32 constantly changes during the operation of the device, so that the dancer constantly varies the degree or intensity of his dance as though following a regular dance routine. Should it not be desired to have the intensity of the dancing vary, the pawl plate can be swung to an inoperative position wherein its extension 57 will not contact the eccentric cam 59. This is accomplished by rotation of a stop shaft 61 which has a stop lever 62 extending into contact with a pin 75 on the pawl plate 56 to swing the latter to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 6.

The stop shaft 61 can be rotated from a manual lever 67 having a handle 63 extending to the exterior through an arcuate slot 64 in the housing 10. The cam shaft 52 may also be rotated manually, if desired, to preset the degree of movement of the pads 32 at any desired point by means of a hand crank 65 mounted on the extremity of the shaft 52 and positioned on the exterior of the housing 10.

The eccentric cam 59 serves still another purpose, that is, to actuate a tilting lever 66 which extends from one of the spacing devices 4-2 across the top of the cam 59. The swinging rod 31 is mounted in the tilting lever 66 so that as the cam 59 swings the lever 66, the latter will also swing the rod 31 and through it the body 14 of the dancing figure. The swinging rod enters a receiving opening in a bottom plate 76 on the bottom of the body 14.

Thus, it can be seen that the body 14 of the figure will be swung forward and back during the rotation of the power shaft 43. The amount of swing can be varied by means of a stop cam 68 mounted on a swing control shaft 69. The cam 68 is in constant contact with the rod 31. Thus, rotation of the shaft 69 will cause the cam 68 to swing the rod forward so as to lift the tilting lever 66 and limit its arc of movement. The swing control shaft 69 can be adjusted at any desired circumferential position by means of a control lever 79 on the exterior of the housing 19. A brake spring 81 holds the shaft 69 in any desired preset position.

A tension spring 80, tensioned between one of the spacing members 42 and the swinging rod 31, constantly urges the tilting lever 66 against the cam 59. A leaf spring 82 constantly holds the pawl 51 against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 55.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A dancing toy comprising: a mechanism housing; cover plate on said housing; a supporting post rising from said cover plate; a bracket extending from said post; a toy figure body hingedly mounted on a horizontal axis on said bracket; arms pivotally depending from the shoulders of said body; upper leg portions pivotally depending from the hips of said body; lower leg portions hingedly depending from said upper leg portions; feet mounted on the lower extremities of said lower leg portions; an individual vibrating pad under each foot; and means in said housing for vibrating said pads independently of each other.

2. A dancing toy as described in claim 1 having a double-lever pivoted intermediate its extremities on said bracket member to rotate in a substantially horizontal plane; a connecting rod extending from each extremity of said double-lever to one of said arms so that rotation of said lever will swing said arms in opposite directions; an actuating member extending from said lever to the body of said figure so that when said body is tilted in a vertical plane, it will act to swing said double-lever in a substantially horizontal plane; and means for swinging said body around its horizontal axis.

3. A dancing toy as described in claim 2 in which the means for swinging the body comprises: a horizontally positioned power shaft in said housing; an eccentric cam carried by said power shaft; a cam follower lever arranged to follow the eccentricity of said cam; and a swinging rod mounted in said cam follower lever and extending upwardly through said cover plate into contact with said body.

4. A dancing toy as described in claim 3 in which the means for vibrating said pads independently of each other comprises: a ratchet-like star wheel mounted on said power shaft at each side of said eccentric cam; two cam follower plates hingedly mounted adjacent said power shaft, each of said plates adapted to contact the lower periphery of one of said star wheels; spring means urging said plates toward their respective star wheels; and push rods arising from said plates to a connection with said pads and imparting vibration to the latter.

5. A dancing toy as described in claim 4 having a manually rotatable shaft positioned adjacent said swinging rod; a cam on said shaft positioned to contact said rod so that rotation of said shaft will cause said cam to contact said rod so as to limit the arc of movement of said swinging rod.

6. A dancing toy comprising: a mechanism housing; a cover plate on said housing; a supporting post rising from said cover plate; a bracket extending from said post; a toy figure body hingedly mounted on a horizontal axis on said bracket; arms pivotally depending from the shoulders of said body; upper leg portions pivotally depending from the hips of said body; lower leg portions hingedly depending from said upper leg portions; feet mounted on the lower extremities of said lower leg portions; an individual vibrating pad under each foot; a horizontal power shaft in said housing; means for rotating said power shaft; a pair of star wheels mounted on said power shaft, said star wheels having irregular, ratchetlike peripheries; a hinge shaft positioned parallel to said power shaft; a pair of cam follower plates hingedly mounted on said hinge shaft, each of said plates extending below one of said star wheels; spring means urging said plates toward said star wheels; and a push rod connecting each plate with one of said pads.

7. A dancing toy as described in claim 6 having a cam shaft positioned above said plates; a pair of eccentric cams on said cam shaft, each cam being positioned in the upward path of movement of one of said plates so that rotation of said cam shaft will rotate said cams toward and away from said cam plates so as to limit the arc of movement of said plates; and means for rotating said cam shaft.

8. A dancing toy as described in claim 7 in which the means for rotating the cam shaft comprises: a ratchet wheel on said cam shaft; a pawl plate rotatable about said cam shaft adjacent said ratchet wheel; pawl on said pawl plate positioned to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel; a third eccentric cam on said power shaft; and means projecting from said pawl plate into contact with said third eccentric cam so that rotation of said power shaft will actuate said pawl to rotate said cam shaft.

9. A dancing toy as described in claim 8 having a cam follower mounted on each of said plates and contacting the irregular periphery of one of said star wheels; and a tubular, resilient member connecting each push rod with one of said plates.

10. A dancing figure comprising: a figure body; a pair of vibrating pads; means supporting said body above said pads; two upper leg members hingedly connected to the hip portions of said body; a lower leg suspended from each of said upper leg members; a knee pivot member connecting said upper and lower leg members; two foot members; a foot pivot member connecting each foot member adjacent its heel extremity to the lower extremity of one of said lower leg members; a projection on each upper leg member adjacent the knee pivot member thereof and positioned in an arcuate slot in the adjacent lower leg member to limit the relative angular movement between the upper and lower leg members, each of said foot members adapted to be contacted by one of said vibrating pads to impart relative angular movements between said upper and lower leg members; a stud projecting from each foot member; a pair of leg levers; a leg pivot securing each leg lever, intermediate the extremities of the latter, to one of said lower leg members, the lower extremity of each leg lever being provided with a slotted opening receiving the stud of the adjacent foot member so that when a swinging movement is imparted to said leg levers, said foot members will be rocked upwardly and downwardly; and means for imparting a swinging movement to said leg levers in consequence of relative angular movement between said upper and lower leg members.

11. A leg structure for toy dancing figures as described in claim 10 in which the means for imparting a swinging movement to said leg levers comprises: a second stud projecting from each upper leg member and positioned to contact the upper extremity of the adjacent leg lever when the lower leg member is swung forwardly so that said leg lever will be actuated to simultaneously swing the adjacent foot member downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 589,982 Rousseau Sept. 14, 1897 

